Guest post by Jacob Morgan
At the web 2.0 conference in San Francisco last week, Tim O’ Reilly said that we should use Web 2.0 to tackle problems that people are faced with, to help the greater good. Not many Web 2.0 companies out there exist for the so-called greater good, but I think I have found one that does, and it is called Govit.com.
Govit.com gives you the unique ability to vote on legislative bills online. Your vote then gets sent directly to your representative. No phone calls, no trying to get a hold of your representative. You also get the opportunity to participate in online conversations regarding legislative bills. Discuss issues that you are passionate about and have your voice heard.
Govit.com was created by Taylor Norrish and when I asked why he decided to create Govit, he said:
“Govit Wants to Power You Up…Politically. I don’t remember a time, when I was so mindful of the issues facing our country, the economy, net-neutrality, healthcare, the environment, the war on terror, the drug war, civil liberties, corruption. Add to that, the power of the special interest, corporations, and an unreliable media. Citizens need a way to get involved… to be represented. Govit is striving to be this tool.”
So what are some of the things that you can do on Govit.com?
- On Govit you can learn about popular legislation, and discuss it
- Vote on legislation
- Have your vote sent instantly to your reps
- The more people vote on a bill, the more elected representatives would be compelled to support their constituents
- Keep tabs on your Representatives, by comparing voting records
Govit.com is a powerful and practical tool that allows for communication between citizens and the government, now, let us hope it catches on.